Radiator-filling attachment



F. A RUCKMAN. RADIATOR FILLING ATTACHM F; LED FEB.

vwewtoz I! E. Ruck man Patented Jan. 39, 1923.

FLOYD A. RUCKMAN, or roar WAYNE, INDIANA.

RADIATOR-FILLING ATTACHMENT.

Application filed February 24, 1921. Serial No. 447,597.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLoYD A. RUOKMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Radiator-Filling Attachments; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en ableaothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

M T invention relates to im orovements in radiator filling attachments and more particularly to a device of this character having a funnel member which is normally in verted and disposed in close proximity to the top of the radiator so that it does not detract from the appearance of'the machine.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive, yet a highly eflicient and desirable radiator filling attachment which may be quickly and easily installed on the usual radiator cap of practically any type of automobile, the construction being such that it is not necessary to carry in stock a multiplicity of different connections, adapters and the like, in order that different machines may be equipped with the invention.

Afurther object is to provide a funnel member which may be removed from its normally inverted position, simply by lifting it bodily instead of rotating the same to disengage screw-threads, a threaded connection however being employed for securing the funnel in operative position.

. A still further object is to provide novel means for locking the device against theft With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination. and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. the

descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention applied to an automobile radiator and illustrating a temperature indicator. commonly known as a motometer, installed upon the retaining cap of the funnel member.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the funnel member and adjacent parts in their normal positions.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view as indicated by line of Fig. 2,

but showing the funnel member righted for use.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectionalview as indicated by line 44 of Fig. 2. In the drawings above briefly described,

the numeral 1 designates the usual filling neck of an automobile radiator 2, said neck being provided with the usual threaded cap 3 which is not molested in applying my in- I vention, except to form a vertical opening 4 through its top and possibly reduce its dimensions to some extent if this is necessary, in order thatit may be received normally in the funnel member, as shown in Fig. 2. A short vertical tube 5 is. received in the opening 4 and is provided near its upper end with a circumferentialexternal flange 6 which rests on the radiator cap, the lower end of the tube being provided with a clamping nut 7 for engagement with the lower side of the cap 3, a gasket'B howeverv being preferably interposed between the two in order to form a water-tight connection. A cotter pin 9 is preferably passed through the tube 5 below the nut 7 in order to lock the latter against loss. The upper end of the tube 5 is both internally and externally threaded and a gasket 10 surrounds thisend and rests on the flange 6, said gasket contacting with the funnel member 11 when I with a central opening havingv a threaded end 12 and a plain end 13, said opening be ing by preference formed through a neck 14 on the funnel member 11, which neck may be of any desired length for properly adapting the device to an automobile. When the funnel member 11 is inverted as shown in Fig. 2, the plain end 13 of the funnel opening receive's the threaded upper end of the tube 5 and said funnel member then rests on the gasket v10, being held in this positionby a cap 15 which is provided Witha plug 16 threaded in the upper end of the aforesaid tube. The cap 15 extends over the upper end of the neck 14 and a gasket 16' is interposed between said neck and cap in order to form a water-tight joint.

When the funnel member 11 is to be rightedfor use, the cap leis unthreaded and said funnel member is lifted bodily from the shown in Fig. 3 and the threaded end 12 of its opening is engaged with the external screw-threads at the upper end of the tube 5, a water-tight joint being formed by contact of the neck let with the gasket 10. By now pouring water into the funnel member, this water will run through the tube 5 into the radiator and since the aforesaid funnel member is relatively long and narrow, is well adapted to receive water from an ordinary bucket without any danger of spilling such water.

In the present showing, I have illustrated a temperature indicator 17 secured in an opening in the plug 16. It will be understood however that the plug may be of solid formation and provided with no such indicator if desired. In manufacturing the device, I prefer to drill an opening only part way through the plug 16 and then if the purchaser wishes to apply a motometer or other well known temperature indicator, it is insured that the opening will be centrally located in the plug.

In order to hold the funnel member ll against turning with respect to the tube 5, T have shown said membe provided with a depending pin 18 receivable in an opening 19 in the flange 6, and in order to lock the cap 15 against removal by unauthorized persons, I form a lug 20 on the outer side of the neck 14 and pass the shackle 21 of a suitable padlock through openings 22 in the rim of the cap 15 as shown clearly in Fig. 4:. The shackle 21 strikes the lug 20 when an attempt is made to unscrew the cap and hence the entire device is locked against tl'ieft.

By employing the features of construction shown and described, or equivalent features, a device is produced which possesses marked manufacturing and commercial advantages as well as being of great assistance to pun chasers in filling their radiators. Furthermore, the device adds to, rather than detracting from the appearance of any machine, due principally to the compact construction used which locates the funnel member 11 in very close proximity to the radiator when the machineis in use. The novel design of the funnel member and the cap 15 of course contributes materially to the appearance of the device and this design is preferably followed, although it is obvious that other shapes could be used if desired. Furthermore, while I have shown the form of construction which I prefer to follow due to the fact that it is almost universally applicable to automobiles, it will be understood that numerous changes in form, proportion, and minor details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination with a radiator cap having an opening in its top, of a radiator filling tube secured in said opening, an invertible funnel assoc'ated with the upper end of said tube, and means for mounting said funnel on said tube in either proper ailing position or in its inverted position.

2. A radiator filling attachment comprising a tube adapted to extend through the top of the radiator cap, means for securing; said tube in place, an invertible funnel associated with the upper end of tube. and means for mounting said funnel on said tube in either proper filling position or .111 its inverted position.

The combination with a vertical radiator filling tube having an externally threaded upper en l, of an invertible funnel member provided with an opening havii'ig a threaded end and a plain. end, said plain end of said opening receiving said threaded end of said tube when the funnel member is inverted on the tube, and means for then closing and securing said tunnel member 1n place; the threads of said opening and tube being adapted for inter-engagement when the funnel member is righted for use.

4:. The combination with a vertical radiator filling tube having an externally threaded upper end, of an invertible funnel member provided with an opening having a threaded end and a plain end. said plain end of said opening receiving said threaded end of said tube when the funnel member is inverted on the tube, and a cap for then closing the opening of said funnel member and securing the latter in place, said cap having an anchoring plug threaded removably in said tube, the threads of said opening and tube being co-operable to secure the funnel member in place when righted for use.

5. The combination with a vertical radiator filling tube having an external circumferential shoulder adjacent its upper end and external screw threads above said. shoulder, of a gasket on said shoulder, an invertible funnel member having an opening provided with a plain end and a threaded end, said plain end of said openlng receiving the threaded end of said tube when the funnel member is inverted and supported bv the gasket on saidv shoulder, and a cap for disposition on said funnel member when inverted whereby to close said opening and hold said funnel member in place on said gasket. said cap having an anchoring plug receivable in said tube; the threads of said tube and opening being adapted for interengagement when the funnel member is righted for use.

6. A structure as specified in claim 8, said vtube being adapted for passage through a radiator cap, and means for securing the tube and cap together.

7.. A radiator filling device comprising a tube adapted for passage through the top of; a radiator cap, said tube having a peripheral flange near its upper end adapted to rest on the radiator cap, a nut threaded on the lower end of said tube for clamping the latter in place, the upper end of said tube being externally and internally threaded, a gasket resting on said flange, an invertible funnel member having an opening provided with a threaded end and a plain end, said plain end or said opening receiving the upper end of the tube when the tunnel member is inverted and supported by the aforesaid gasket on said flange, and a cap having 21 depending threaded plug for engagement with the internal threads of the aforesaid tube, said cap serving to close the opening of the funnel member and to hold said funnel member tightly against the gasket on said flange, the threaded end of said opening and the external threads of said tube being co-operable in securing said funnel member on said tube when the former is righted for use.

8. A structure as specific in claim at, together with means for holding said funnel member against turning when inverted, and

9. A structure as specified in claim l, to-

gether with means for holding said funnel member against turning when inverted, a

lug on said funnel member under said cap,

and a lock carried by said cap and normally abutting said lug to prevent rotation of said cap.

10. A radiator filling attachment comprising a tube adapted to be secured to a radiator cap, said tube having an external shoulder-near its upper end, an invertible funnel having an opening to receive the upper end of said tube, said funnel being adapted when inverted to rest on said shoulder, and a supplemental cap adapted to bear on said funnel when the latter engages said shoulder, said supplemental cap having a portion adapted to be threaded into the upper end of said tube.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I my hand.

FLOYD A. RUOKMAN. 

